Verbos con Raíces Ir

In Spanish, verbs have a stem and an ending. For -ir verbs, the ending is obviously -ir. The stem is everything that comes before that. For example, in pedir (to ask for), ped- is the stem. Normally, the stem stays the same for every person. Not with these guys! For certain verbs, the vowel in the stem changes. This happens in the present tense for all persons except two. We call this a "stem change" or a "root change." There are three main types for -ir verbs. Some change from e to ie. Some change from e to i. A few change from o to ue. It is like the verb is getting a little makeover. It only happens in the stressed syllable. When the stress moves, the change disappears. This is why some forms stay regular. It sounds like a lot of work. But it actually makes the words easier to say quickly. Spanish is all about flow and rhythm.

1. 1To master these verbs, you need to follow these steps:
2. 2Identify the verb type (e-ie, e-i, or o-ue).
3. 3Remove the -ir ending to find the stem.
4. 4Change the stem vowel according to the rule.
5. 5Apply the change to yo, tú, él/ella, and ellos/ellas.
6. 6Keep the stem regular for nosotros and vosotros.
7. 7Add the standard -ir present tense endings: -o, -es, -e, -imos, -ís, -en.
8. 8We often call this the Boot Rule. If you draw a line around the changing forms on a chart, it looks like a boot. The "regular" forms (nosotros and vosotros) sit outside the boot. For example, with servir (to serve), the e becomes i. So, yo becomes sirvo. But nosotros stays servimos. Think of nosotros as the safe zone. It is like a grammar traffic light. The boot forms are the green light for changing. Nosotros and vosotros are the red light. They stop the change in its tracks.

You will use these verbs constantly in the real world. Imagine you are at a busy tapas bar in Madrid. You want to order another round of drinks. You use the verb pedir. You say, Yo pido otra caña, por favor. The e changed to i because you are talking about yourself. Or maybe you are at a job interview. You want to say that you follow instructions well. You use seguir. You say, Yo sigo las instrucciones. Again, the e changes to i. What if you are feeling tired? You might say, Me duermo en el sofá. Here, dormir changes o to ue. These verbs cover your basic needs. They handle hunger, sleep, preferences, and feelings. If you want to say you prefer coffee over tea, you use preferir. That’s an e to ie change. You say, Prefiero el café. Using these correctly makes you sound natural. It shows you are moving past the basic beginner phase. You are starting to master the nuances of Spanish.

Don’t get carried away! Not every -ir verb is a rebel. Many are perfectly regular. For example, vivir (to live) and escribir (to write) never change their stems. You say vivo and escribo. Don’t try to make them vievo or escriebo. That would sound very strange to a native speaker. Also, remember the safe zone. Never apply the stem change to nosotros or vosotros. This is the most common trap. You might be tempted to say nosotros piedimos. That is a big no-no. It is always nosotros pedimos. The stress in these forms is on the ending, not the stem. Because the stem isn't stressed, it doesn't have the energy to change. Think of it like a battery. The stem change needs the "power" of the word's stress. In nosotros, the power is elsewhere. Also, these changes are specific to certain tenses. We are focusing on the present tense here. Some of these verbs also change in the past, but the rules are different. One step at a time!

Yes, even native speakers mess this up sometimes when they are kids. The biggest mistake is changing nosotros. It feels weird to switch back to the regular stem. But you must do it! Another mistake is picking the wrong change. Is it e to ie or e to i? For example, sentir (to feel) becomes siento. But servir (to serve) becomes sirvo. There isn't always a clear rule for which one to use. You just have to memorize them through practice. Some learners also forget to change the ellos form. They think the change only happens for yo. Remember the boot! If it is inside the boot, it must change. Ellos piden, not ellos peden. Also, watch out for i to ie confusion. It is preferir -> prefiero, not prefiro. Lastly, don't confuse -er and -ir endings. They are similar, but -ir verbs have imos and ís for nosotros and vosotros. Keep your endings straight!

You might remember -ar and -er stem changers. For example, cerrar (e-ie) and volver (o-ue). The stem change logic is exactly the same. The "boot" applies to them too. The only difference is the endings you attach at the end. However, -ir verbs have a special category. They are the only ones that can change e to i. You won't find an -ar or -er verb that does that. If you see an e-i change, it is almost certainly an -ir verb. This makes -ir verbs a bit more complex. They have three possible changes instead of two. Also, compare sentir (e-ie) with sentar (e-ie). Sentir is an -ir verb meaning "to feel." Sentar is an -ar verb meaning "to sit." They both change to siento in the yo form. This can be confusing! You have to look at the context. Are you feeling something, or are you sitting down? Language is like a puzzle. Sometimes two pieces look the same but go in different places.